The conversations that sprung from that really cemented in my Ming some if the learning Ive been doing about the importance of quality networks.

I add people to my networks for the following reasons.

1. To learn from- usually other teachers and eLearning professionals who I can converse with about issues we deal with professionally.

2. To teach- generally in the same area as above.

3. Other geeks, usually female. I network with these people because we share a common interest and talk about similar things in our networks. Its a great opportunity to have fun and stay informed, as well as hear a variety of opinions- many I dont personally agree with.

4. Friends. While my current major use of social networking (except facebook) is for expressing either the teacher side of me, or the arts side of me, I recognize that social interaction with friends I see regularly is important. Social media is a great way to accomplish that, and to make collegues, friends.

So these are my qualifiers if you like. There are people I am networked with who dont fit into these categories, and thats fine. Some of them stay, some dont, as long as were mutually beneficial, then Im happy.

What are some of the reasons you add people to your social networks?

P.S. I wrote this all on my iPhone, proud of me?!

I only have a few displayed, because I rarely use them now anyway. Some are from my Uni days, for different subjects, others for different weekly things I was planning to do, but haven’t followed through on.

So I was thinking of asking you, my reader, what do you think my categories should be? I want to have about 7 or 8. What do you think are the main topics I blog about?! I’ll realease all my categories to you as well, so you can see them on the left hand colum of this blog (just click through to my actual site if you’re viewing this in a reader…)

Help me please!!

(also keep in mind that I am wanting to broaden my bloggin a little more to include other aspects of my like like my work (eLearning things I’m learning), and possibly some more tech related things (see Unlocking Hayden’s Present post)…

Thanks!

My theme for 2009 is: Priority.

I’m sick of doing pointless things, and wasting time. This year I am taking life seriously, and making the most of the time I have. It also involves segregating certain aspects of life- not letting work take up all my time, and not letting the internet take too much time either.

1. Focus on God. I probably say this every year, but I am serious about it now. Luke and I are going on a pilgrimage to Israel in less then two weeks, which will be a great kick start to the year.

2. Love. Spend more time with Luke, just us, spend time with family, and making sure I let people know that I love them. Letting LOVE exude from my character, and showing love even to those people who annoy me. I need to make love a priority in life.

Also, to let work be work and life be life. I work at my parent’s house, so it’s really quite hard to sometimes just ‘hang out’, and it’s easy, because it’s so close, to just spend lots of time there working, and not enough time with Luke.

3. Tell the truth. I like to make stuff up, so this year I’m going to make sure I always tell the truth, even when I’ve done the wrong thing.

4. Be more involved online. I want to spend more time networking, both with my eLearning work, and my personal stuff. This means making the effort to comment on more blogs, maintain my ela blog, bookmark in delicious, post photos to flickr and deviant art, and stay active in twitter, and my personal blogging. I’d also like to make this blog reflect more a ‘whole’ of me- not just the personal side of me.

I’m making a good start to it by being involved in the group twitter365 on flickr.

5. Be healthier. Loose some weight, eat whole foods, exercise regularly, etc. etc. I’m going to go for walks with Pepper, and if I don’t do that, then spend some time on the wii fit. This last month I’ve actually been a lot better at it, so here’s hoping that January is better still!

6. Focus of photography. I’ve found a great site that gives you assignments every week, so I’m going to try to be part of that more, and really learn more about how to increase my skills and knowledge, and learn some new techniques. This means being a regular on Deviant Art, and learning from my photographer friends, like Cam.

So those are my main goals. This year I hope to update monthly on how they’re going, and review them. I also want to spend time doing more crafts and painting if I get the chance, and some more money.